Any reason why the gap between the windshield post and the door is so huge on some replica speedsters? Seems to be less of an issue on say intermeccanica and old cmc cars. Is it the way the molds have been modified or could the windshield/frame be mounted further back?
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Here’s an early intermeccanica and also a shot I took of McQueen’s old speedster at the Peterson museum a few years ago.
Depends on the windshield placement, I set the windshield frame base 3/8" rearward of the wiper post fiberglass raised area. A windshield that is not in the correct location causes issues installing the windshield post pipe / washer spacer under the cowl, wiper arm clearance and side curtain fit.
Intermeccanica places the windscreen back more to allow a rubber gasket that seals against the electric windup glass windows. 
It's a good arrangement.
I used the semi-official CMC corner post positioning template (coffee stains and all) on my CMC which ends up setting the windshield about where Alan mentions he positions his. My corner posts sit about an inch from the rear edge of the body cowl, similar to the second (white) speedster you show. That's made it easier to get the side windows to seal against the curved windshield with a bulbous seal.
That position also matched a bunch of photos of original Speedsters as that was the only reference I had back in 1997 when I was installing the glass.
I have CMC Speedster. I replaced the vinyl top with a Haartz cloth top from VS. I don't like how the top is skimpy on either side of the windshield (yellow marked) compared to the CMC original. I guess it's because VS used the fabric surrounded side curtains. Seem is will leak ALOT with the plexiglass side curtains.
@Gordon Nichols posted:I used the semi-official CMC corner post positioning template (coffee stains and all) on my CMC which ends up setting the windshield about where Alan mentions he positions his.
Regretfully they aren't aromatic coffee stains! Our cat (Felix) liked to lounge in garage in/around the speedster. HE loved to mark his territory. He marked the build manual and the chrome Mangel wheels. Build manual still (30 years later) has a distasteful aroma and the wheels' chrome pitted and rusted in the garage!
My Beck is close to the 356 original spacing.
To me it looks like the top is too tight on the blue car. This would pull windshield back if the posts are not tight --- or maybe break the glass if the posts were tight and more up right. Maybe the support mirror bracket is too tight too.
